Caherconnell Stone Fort
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Caherconnell Stone Fort |
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To read the article published by the Royal Irish Academy on Caherconnell click here Artifacts found during the Archaeological Dig at Caherconnell Stone Fort in 2008.
The prehistoric chamber found at Caherconnell Stone Fort during the 2008 archaeological dig. Dr. Michelle Comber of NUIG and Graham Hull of TVAS Ireland completed further excavations at Caherconnell in 2008. "According to a number of experts we have uncovered an original extremely well preserved prehistoric chamber, so far, unique in the archaeology of Ireland or Britain - we have no comparisons" said Graham Hull. The disarticulated body of a female 15 to 25 years was discovered in the chamber. Radiocarbon dating has shown the body was buried in the 15th century corresponding with the habitation of the fort. This burial is most unusual from two points of view. 1. Disarticulation was only practiced in much earlier times as the burials in Poulnabrone Dolmen around 3700 BC. 2. As a 15th century burial this should have been a burial in the Christian tradition that is in consecrated ground. Why this is not the case will be a subject for discussion at numerous archaeological conferences and further research in 2009. Skull found in the Caherconnell chamber 
The secondary burials represent a possible ritual association at the time of their deposition in the fifteenth/sixteenth century AD. High-status Early Medieval settlements such as Caherconnell cashel often display a deliberate association with earlier, prehistoric burial/ritual sites, as a territorial/political statement. It is, however, very unusual to find disarticulated partial human remains treated in this fashion at such a late date. Artefacts recovered from the chamber, included a sherd of prehistoric pottery and fragments of three stone axe-heads. Surface finds within the depression included three silver medieval coins and the iron blade of a medieval knife. The prehistoric pottery was dated around 3700 BC. 
This chamber only covers half of the natural depression. "The results have been so interesting that we have decided to excavate the other half in heritage week 2009" said Dr Michelle Comber of NUIG and Graham Hull of TVAS Ireland. To read more about the archaeology of Caherconnell click here.
This project is supported by leader.   | ||||
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